A government step to introduce a national air- cargo service has remained shelved for more than seven years, thanks to bureaucratic tangle.
Sources said it was due for launch in mid-2015.
The service proposed by commerce ministry was discussed at a meeting of civil aviation and tourism ministry in early 2014.
Later, commerce ministry made the initiative to launch an air cargo service with an eye on facilitating export-import trade of the country.
Earlier, different trade bodies and organisations had made a proposal to the commerce ministry in this connection, recognising the importance of a national air -cargo service in the country.
The ministry then took opinions from trade bodies and organisations in this connection.
"The move remains shelved now. There is no work on the issue," an official of commerce ministry told the FE.
Sector insiders say a national air cargo service is urgently needed in the country.
They suggested that the government introduce the service soon for the sake of export trade.
Air cargo service is always required for trade and commerce. But it is a pressing need during coronavirus pandemic and political turmoil.
According to stakeholders, air cargo service will better serve business and economy.
Like developed countries, Bangladesh should introduce this service to boost export-import trade and ship goods, industry insiders observed.
Currently, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited offers international passengers and cargoes to different destinations.
The national flag carrier has air service agreements with more or less 42 countries.
Local private companies provide cargo service worldwide with the help of others. But there is no separate national air cargo service here, an exporter says.
The urgency of air cargo service was felt first during the 2014 political turmoil. It is being felt again during the ongoing pandemic.
The demand for the service is increasing gradually instead of sea and land transportation, according to the businessman.
With the fast-growing demand for Bangladeshi goods in different countries, the demand for a national air cargo service has also increased, he remarks.
"Exporters have to pay a sizeable amount to foreign airlines annually. It can be contributed to the domestic economy if we have a national air cargo service," opines a vegetable exporter.
The freight rate of air cargo reaches double or triple during any political turbulence or pandemic, he told the FE.
Presently, more or less 1,000 tonnes of export items are carried through air cargo service per day, according to the sources.
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